Dwyane Wade is quick to laud Miami Heat teammate LeBron James for all his basketball skill and smarts, but he is not quite ready to put James on par with Michael Jordan.

Wade, a Chicago native, did say James has the potential to become a Jordan-type talent, albeit through a complicated golf metaphor.

LeBron James is on the right path, but he still has a long way before he can reach Michael Jordan, Dwyane Wade says. (AP Photo)

“I don’t know if (James) has the ability to surpass (Jordan) or not,” Wade told ESPNChicago.com on Thursday. “That’s yet to be seen. My version as LeBron being on par with Michael is this: They’re both on the golf course. Michael’s on the 18th hole. LeBron is somewhere on like the fourth hole. He’s got a long way to go, but he’s on par to get to the 18th hole.

“I think everyone knows that (James) is a phenomenal, phenomenal player. He’s one that we haven’t seen, with the makeup of a 6-8 guy who runs as fast as any point guard, jumps as high as any center, and has the ability that he has to do so many things. But Michael Jordan is the greatest player of all time, that’s who everyone shoots for. So it’s going to be hard to surpass that.”

Wade previously told the South Florida Sun Sentinel James was “on that level” as it pertained Jordan’s play. James’ accomplishments at 27 years old do mirror those of Jordan’s at the same stage of his career. Both players won their first NBA title at 27. Jordan did go on to win six titles total, a number James would have to match to be considered an equal.

James is coming off the best year of his basketball career. On top of his first NBA title, James took home league MVP and won an Olympic gold medal. That feat has been duplicated only by Hall of Famers Jordan and Bill Russell.

“I’m not (surprised),” Wade said of James’ year. “Because there’s a certain period in your life and a time (in) an age group where you’re going to continue to get better. You see players like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, they’re good now but they’re going to be better. And it’s not saying how many more points you can score, it’s just being better as an overall player. And LeBron is at that point; he’s 27 years old.

“He’s now playing with that confidence, that swagger that you need, and he’s right in the smack of his prime. We’ve all seen it from all the best players in this game, all the future Hall of Famers, that age—27, 28, 29—that’s like the best years, and then after that if you stay healthy, then you have even more great years like a Michael Jordan, like a Kobe (Bryant) has had, when they reach their 30s.”